POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
FOR FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
RECREATION OUTREACH CENTER
“THE ROC”
PURPOSE
With the Bible as our basis and the Holy Spirit as our guide, First Baptist Church
of Sulphur Springs exists to:
• Introduce people to Jesus;
• Imitate the life of Jesus;
• Impact our community and the world for Jesus.
The mission of the ROC and the recreation ministry is to:
• Reach the community for Christ by intentionally sharing the Gospel;
• Strengthen fellowship among participants by challenging them to a closer
relationship with Christ and with each other;
• Establish and maintain a spiritual tone that exalts Christ; and
• Assist individuals in honoring Christ by caring for their bodies through a
lifestyle of health and wellness.

INTERPRETATION OF RULES POLICIES, AND PROCEDURES
The ROC is managed by the Minister of Recreation and Outreach along with
volunteers who are extensions of the ROC staff and therefore bear all authority
vested in him/her by First Baptist Church. The recreation staff will be responsible
for interpretation and enforcement of all rules, policies, and procedures. Any
situations not specifically covered in this Policies and Procedures manual or
decisions that are open to interpretation will be acted upon by the Minister of
Recreation and Outreach. The Policies and Procedures will be reviewed
periodically by the Minister of Recreation and may be amended as needed with
Church approval.

The ROC will also be open after Sunday night and Wednesday night services for
open gym time and intramural competition.
The hours of operation may be adjusted based on sports league schedules and other
considerations.
MEMBER, GUEST, AND VISITOR GUIDELINES
Members
Membership and participation in the ROC is open to all members of First Baptist
Church and any of its ministries or organizations and members of the community.
• Members must complete a “Membership Registration” form, sign a “Waiver
of Liability” form, and read “Policies and Procedures for First Baptist
Church Recreation Outreach Center.”
• An identification card will be issued for access to the facility.
• A $5.00 fee will be charged for the identification card.
• All members of the ROC are required to have their identification card for
entry into the facility. The identification card allows ROC personnel to
identify the individual entering and to access medical information and
contact family members in case of an emergency.
• Identification cards must be kept by the member who is authorized entrance
into the facility and may be used only by the member whose name appears
on the card. Children may not use a parent’s identification card.
• Identification cards must be used when checking out equipment in the
facility and will be returned to the individual when equipment has been
returned.

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• A replacement fee of $5 will be charged if an identification card is lost.
• First Baptist Church reserves the right to terminate membership to any
member of the facility without prior notice.
• Children in the fifth grade or younger may use the ROC only when
accompanied by a parent/guardian or with adult leadership sponsoring an
activity for them. Children in this age group may not be left unattended at
any time.
• Youth in the sixth grade or older may use the ROC unaccompanied by an
adult, but must contact a staff member in the facility in case of an
emergency.
• Registration by all participants entering the ROC is necessary for the
purpose of both information and safety.
• All participants must abide by the policies and procedures of the ROC and
participate in a facility orientation.
• Individuals in the sixth through twelfth grades may obtain membership with
permission from a parent or guardian. This parent or guardian must also sign
the membership application form as legal guardian if the child is under the
age of 18.
Guests
Guests are individuals who have no affiliation with First Baptist Church, but are
hosted by a ROC member. The guest is someone who is not planning on becoming
a member of the ROC
• First-time guests must complete a registration form, sign a “Waiver of
Liability” form, and read “Policies and Procedures for First Baptist Church
Recreation Outreach Center.”
• If the guest arrives at the ROC before the sponsoring member, the guest
should wait in the lobby for their host. When exiting, the guest may leave
before the member, but if the member leaves the guest should also leave.
• Members are accountable for the conduct of their guests.
• All guests must comply with all policies of the ROC.
• First Baptist Church reserves the right to deny access to any guest of the
facility without prior notice.

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Visitors
Visitors are individuals who are a part of an outside group such as a team member
or spectator from another church.
• Visitors are the responsibility of the church or group with which they come.
• Visitors are to stay in the area where their group is participating and are not
allowed free access to the ROC.
• A leader from the outside group is required to sign the “Visitor’s Register”
at the Reception Desk. The leader will be asked to supply the name of their
group, number of people in their group, and his/her name and contact
information.
• Visitors are welcome to tour the ROC, but appropriate personnel must host
each group. Advance notice is recommended.
• Visitors must comply with all policies and procedures. We don’t expect
individuals to disregard the policies but in the event that does occur, those
who fail to comply will be asked to leave.
LIABILITY
• Responsibility or liability for any injury is not assumed by First Baptist
Church.
• In the event of an injury while using the facility, no medical insurance is
provided.
• The use of facilities and equipment will be totally at the risk of each
individual.
ENTERING AND EXITING THE FACILITY
• All entering and exiting of the facility is to be done through the main/front
door on the north side of the building. All other doors may only be used in
case of an emergency.
• Upon entering, all participants should register at the Registration Desk. This
is not only for information purposes, but for safety issues as well.
• Upon exiting, all participants should leave the premises; loitering in the
parking lot is not permitted.

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DRESS CODE
The ROC is to be a God-honoring facility.
Shoes must be worn at all times unless the individual is participating in an
appropriate group exercise where shoes are not required. Hard-soled shoes,
cleats, or turf shoes are not permitted during recreational activities. Any
questionable shoes must be approved by ROC personnel.
Shirts must be worn at all times and must cover midriff fully. Clothing with
inappropriate advertisements, foul language, or symbols that could be
considered offensive is not allowed.
Shorts must be at least fingertip (mid-thigh) length and are not to have slits
in the sides.
Sports bras must be completely concealed.
Females may not wear shirts with low necklines.
Spandex leggings must be covered by shorts or pants.
If questions arise as to whether specific clothing is appropriate, ROC staff
will have the final decision.

EXPECTED BEHAVIOR
All participants are to be respectful and courteous to ROC personnel as well
as others using the facility.
Profanity or foul language will not be tolerated.
Inappropriate displays of affection are not allowed.
Unsportsmanlike conduct while engaging in any activity is prohibited.
Proper care and use of facilities and equipment is expected at all times.
ROC members may not knowingly allow or encourage admittance into the
facility by a non-member.
Audio devices may only be used with headphones.
Music played during activities must be God honoring.

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PROHIBITED ITEMS
Anything that could be considered a weapon (unless with a concealed
weapon permit)
Animals (with the exception of specially trained animals to assist the
disabled)
Tobacco in any form
Alcohol in any form (including non-alcoholic beer)
Any controlled/illegal substance
Gum

DISCIPLINARY ACTION
The use of the facility is dependent upon each individual’s willingness to
abide by the policies and procedures.
First warning of not obeying set guidelines: Explanation of the rule broken.
Second warning (Youth): Removal from the ROC for the remainder of the
day and notification of parents.
Second warning (Adult): One month suspension.
Third warning (Youth): One month suspension and notification of parents.
Continued infractions may result in loss of eligibility to participate in any
activities in the ROC.

USE OF THE GAME ROOM
The use of any game is limited to 1 hour if others are waiting to use it.
Equipment checked out for any game must be used for its intended purpose
and returned to the Registration Desk immediately after use.
Equipment checked out for the Game Room may not be removed from the
facility.
Rearranging tables in the Game Room is not allowed.
In case of game equipment failure or breakdown, participants should report
the matter to ROC personnel immediately. If the breakdown is the result of
misuse, the participant may be asked to pay for the cost of repairs.
Any personal games brought into the facility must be approved by ROC
personnel before use. They must be rated E, for everyone.

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USE OF GYMNASIUM
All balls and other equipment must be checked out by using an identification
card and must be returned to the Registration Desk.
All scheduled activities take precedence over free play.
Objects may not be thrown from the gym floor to the walking track above.
The height of basketball goals may be adjusted by ROC personnel only.
Equipment such as score clocks and bleachers, etc., may only be operated by
ROC personnel.
Hanging from basketball goals or nets is prohibited.
Personal equipment may not be brought into the gym for use.
Roller skates, skateboards, roller blades, or similar equipment may only be
used on the gym floor if provided by the church.
Children below ninth grade must be accompanied by a sponsoring adult.
See the “Dress Code” section for further information about what is
considered acceptable attire for the gym.

USE OF THE WALKING/JOGGING TRACK
15 ½ laps around the track is equivalent to one mile
Signs will be posted indicating the direction to walk or jog.
Racing/sprinting is not allowed.
Leaning over the rail is prohibited.
Participants must exit the track while talking on a cell phone.
Standing or loitering on the track is prohibited, and spectators are not
allowed to stand on the track to watch activities below, with the exception of
Upward basketball games, if floor seating is insufficient.
Slower walkers should stay on the inside of the track with faster walkers and
joggers passing on the outside.
Children below sixth grade must be accompanied by a sponsoring adult.
Only athletic equipment checked out from the reception desk is to be taken
onto the track.

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EATING/DRINKING IN THE FACILITY
• Food and drinks will not be allowed in the gym, around the game tables, or
on the track. However, bottled water will be allowed in the gym and track
areas.
• Food and drinks will be allowed in the café, lounge and class rooms.
• For approved banquets and ministry events food and drinks will be allowed
in the gym. (These events are approved in advance by the Minister of
Recreation.)

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USE OF KITCHEN
The purpose of the kitchen is for food preparation for church functions. At
all other times the kitchen will remain locked and access will be prohibited.
No one under sixth grade will be permitted in the kitchen unless
accompanied by a sponsoring adult.
Keys to the kitchen must be checked out at the Reception Desk.
For any outside groups using the kitchen, the church hostess or a member of
the kitchen committee must be present.

RESERVING THE FACILITY
First Baptist Church related activities have precedent over all other requests.
Reservations for the ROC by any group must be approved by the Minister of
Recreation and will be based on availability on the church calendar.
A facility use fee does not apply to any church-related functions; however, a
charge may apply for the use of media, sound, video, or lighting equipment
and approved personnel to operate it.
Reserving the ROC includes completing the “Reservation Agreement” and
paying a deposit.
Any group using the ROC for a reserved event is responsible for leaving the
facility in excellent condition. All trash and other left-over items must be
carried out and disposed of properly and all surfaces cleaned.
The gym will be available for decorating up to three hours prior to any
reserved event. This must be requested when making the reservation. All
decorations must be removed immediately following the event.

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• Any group making a reservation is responsible for their program. ROC
personnel are not responsible for leading games or other activities for the
event.
• Reservations may be made no more than twelve months and no less than one
week in advance. Exceptions may be made to the one-week rule at the
discretion of the Minister of Recreation and depending upon the availability
of the facility.
• The ROC may not be reserved on Sundays or on Wednesday evenings.
• All reservations are made on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Cancellations or changes must be reported to the ROC office no less than 24
hours before the beginning of the activity.
• Adult supervision must be adequate for activities involving children. (One
adult is required for every 10 participants under youth age.)
• If the sound system is to be used, a qualified member of the church must
operate the equipment or the church must provide training to operate the
system.

CLASSROOMS
Entrance into classrooms is prohibited while using the ROC for recreational
purposes.

FIRST AID
A First Aid Kit is available at the Welcome Center for minor injuries. An AED
(Automated External Defibrillator) will be located in the Reception Office.

LOST AND FOUND
Items left in the building will be returned to the owner when requested and
properly identified. Participants are encouraged to put their names on all loose
personal items such as warm-ups and equipment bags, etc. Any lost items that are
not claimed within one month will be donated to charity. First Baptist Church is
not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen items.

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FACILITY USE FOR GROUPS
Gym, Game Room, and General Areas with use of game equipment
Member
Cost

Non-member

$20/hr

$30/hr

Custodial Fee

$40

$40

Deposit

$50

$100

$4/set

$4/set

Round tables w/8 chairs

FACILITY USE FEES FOR GROUPS
Gym, Tables, Chairs, and Kitchen Use (Banquet Style)
Member
Building rental
Chairs/Tables

Non-member

$20/hr

$30/hr

$100 for up to 200 people. For any number over 200, there is an
additional $0.50 charge per person. A maximum of 320 people
can be accommodated for banquet seating, (8 chairs per table)
and 600 for concert seating